Heritage rail to get Greens' backing

THE Tasmanian Greens announced their support for heritage rail at Steamfest at Sheffield at the weekend.

Greens candidate for Lyons Tim Morris said the Greens would invest $2.25million over the next three years to ensure the heritage railways had consistent access to money.

The policy would provide a $1.5 million grants program; invest $500,000 to fund a preliminary scoping study to establish a Heritage Rail Skills and Expertise Centre of Excellence; and invest $250,000 to establish a not-for-profit heritage rail operating company to provide sustainable heritage rail operations.

Mr Morris, who had long been involved in the Derwent Valley Rail Society, said the heritage rail and steam sector looked after a selection of community assets worth millions of dollars, and generally on minimum funds.

"We have a world-class selection of trains and the only money they can get access to at the moment is the community fund," Mr Morris said.

Liberal candidate for Braddon Jeremy Rockliff said a Liberal government would look at supporting heritage rail in Tasmania.